With the passing of my latest birthday I pledged to begin writing again. Life presents many opportunities and in doing so demands many choices to be made. I once used writing to explore my thoughts and the resulting introspection affected great change in my lifestyle. I have gotten away from the habit of writing and while my life has continued to progress, it has done so at a slower pace than what I wish. The time has come to refocus my vision and write once again. Take what you wish from these essays – I write to serve my own purpose. In sharing, my hope is to simply stir the thoughts of those who read what I have written.

In deciding where to begin, I thought to visit why I needed to write at all. I write for my own growth and introspection but also for the discipline it requires and the satisfaction it provides when completed. So, I begin at the core and begin analyzing what it is that makes and shapes a man.

I have always been a scholar, even if at times I am merely studious of the pleasures life itself offers. Life is merely a series of events linked together. We are the sum of those events coupled with the lives we intersect. Therefore we become a product of our surroundings and of those we surround ourselves with. On the surface, life changes appear to come from two distinct sources – both internal and external. This is both faulty logic and a misconception. The truth is that life changes are entirely internal. We respond to our surroundings and react accordingly. All changes are a result of choices we make, conscious or unconscious. Even the apparent lack of choice is but an unconscious decision not to seek another way. Instead we have chosen to take the easiest path and allow someone else to decide our fate. There is always another choice, always another decision that can be made. Most of us simply are unwilling to make the effort to find or follow the other path. This is a power exchange at its basest level. Those who do not choose for themselves give all power and control of their lives over to another – whoever it may be. This deception is unacceptable to me. I refuse to give control of my life to another without a conscious decision to do so. Without control, there can be no growth.

I identified and recorded most of my core beliefs and ideals over two decades ago. Although I have refined and further clarified them over time they remain basically unchanged since they were first written. Truly, that which is at our core defines us and does not change. Even so, I am mystified by how few people try to identify their core self. Most fail to seek what defines them, fail to look for the motivation to live. Make no mistake – if we define what we want from our lives, we take the first step to possessing it.

Over the next several weeks I will write on what I believe to be the foundations of a genuine man. Without a conscious effort to refine who I am and what I believe, I would remain raw and untested. The hammer and anvil will forge a purposed man and will drive out doubt and indecision. I intend on addressing these topics and more as it suits me:

• purpose
• commitment
• personal accountability
• trust and intimacy
• truth to self
• personal growth and enrichment
• honor
• duty and service
• self discipline

Your comments are welcome.